Caster.



No, 333,453. PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906. A. A. FISHER.

GASTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. '1. 1305.

Q J I '3 t atko'cnug s.

AUSTIN A. FISHER, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CASTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application filed September '7, 1905. Serial No. 277,350.

-T0 a. whom it may cancer-7t:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN A. FIsHER', a citizen of the United States,residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and use ful Caster, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention. consists of a caster constructed of a ball-roller and askeleton frame adapted to freely contain the same and preventdisplacement thereof and provide the proper bearings for said ball withthe least Fig. 7 represents a top view of the form shown in Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a ball-roller, and B designatesa frame, which contains the upper portion C of the said ball, said frameconsisting of the top plate D, the

arms E, depending therefrom, the ring F,

which connects said arms at the lower ends thereof, and the inturnedlips G, which depend from said ring and freely encircle said ball belowthe equatorial line thereof, and thus prevent the same from droppingfrom said frame B, it being noticed that said arms are equally spacedapart, and their inner faces are continuous coincident curves, as arealso those of the lips, to conform to the curvature of the ball which inits motions has free bearings on said faces, and the spaces between thearms prevent lodgment of dirt in the frame, the arms also acting asscrapers to clear the surface of the ball of anything that may be takenup by the same. Furthermore, the ring F forms strong connections for thearms and prevents the same from being spread and opening, the frame inits entirety being light, durable, and inexpensive, the members D E F Gthereof being inte ral, while the members or lips G, which are s ort inlength, retain the ball in position with the least friction thereon, thecurvatures of the inner faces of said lips being continuities of thoseof the members or arms E.

In Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 7 I show a screwthreaded spindle H, which risesfrom the plate D and is adapted to be driven into the leg of a chair,table, &c., in order to retain the caster in position. The upper end ofthe spindle H is cut away, forming a plurality of faces J, forming aseries of angles, and leaving the entering portion substantiallytriangular, as seen best in Figs. 2 and 7. These angles arescrew-threaded, whereby the spindle may readily cut into the wood, andthus easily penetrate the same.

In Figs. 3 and 6 the plate D has openings shown in dotted lines toreceive fastening- The plate is circular in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 andtriangular in Figs. 5 and 7, without producing different results ineither case;

but the spindle is a preferred form of fastening device, as its taperingend presents cutting edges which work against the wood in a manner thatis evident.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

A caster consisting of a horizontal top plate having spaced armsdepending therefrom, an annu ar ring connecting said arms near theirlower ends, inturned lips forming continuities of said arms below thering, and a ball-roller within said arms, ring and lips, said lipsconforming to the curvature of the ball and engaging the same below andin proximity to its horizontal aXis and the bearing faces of said armsbeing continuities of curves coincident one with the other and with saidlips.

AUSTIN A. FISHER. Witnesses:

CHAS. H. SoHAN'rz, CYRUS A. FISHER.

